Recreation and Tourism

What can I hunt

In Victoria, license can be obtained for recreation game hunting of the following game species:

Ducks Stubble Quail Sambar Deer Hog Deer Red Deer Fallow Deer

Game species are resilient to harvesting and able to adapt to extreme and unpredictable environmental conditions. They occur in relatively large numbers, have a high replacement potential, mature quickly and can breed at an early age, have high rates of turnover, are fast escapers and are very wary in nature.

Eight species of native duck may be hunted in Victoria. These species are: Pacific Black Duck, Chestnut Teal, Grey Teal, Hardhead (White-eyed Duck), Australian Shelduck (Mountain Duck), Pink-eared Duck, Maned Duck (Wood Duck) and Blue Wing Shoveler. Recreational duck hunting in Victoria is managed on a sustainable basis and bag limits, restrictions on species hunted and season dates are set to ensure that hunting does not threaten the conservation status of any game species. 2008 Duck Hunting Season Cancelled The 2008 duck season has been cancelled due to the ongoing drought and low duck numbers. View the duck season information sheets for the latest information on seasonal arrangements. View the Guide to Australian Waterfowl for images and video-footages, on duck species that can be hunted in Victoria. These pages are intended to enable you to identify some important waterfowl (ducks, geese and swans) in Australia.

The Stubble Quail is the only native quail species that can be legally hunted in Victoria. They have dark brown colouration with pale buff markings. The centre of each feather has a cream stripe, giving the feathers a streaked appearance. The adult Stubble Quail is 18 to 18.5cm in length, with the female slightly larger than the male.

Sambar were introduced to Victoria mainly from Sri Lanka with a smaller number coming from India in 1860s. Sambar Deer are the most successful and widespread of the deer species introduced into Victoria and are considered to be a prime game animal. Sambar are the largest of Australia's wild deer and the third largest of all deer species behind moose and wapiti. They have a thick hide, coarse brown hair and a mature stag can stand up to 130cm at the shoulder and weigh over 300kg.

Source: Bruce Parnall

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Hog Deer

Hog deer were introduced to Victoria from Sri Lanka and India in 1865. They are the smallest of Australia’s six deer species. A mature hog deer stag stands about 70cm at the shoulder and weighs approximately 50kg. A guide to hunting Hog Deer in Victoria will provide you with further information

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Red Deer

Red deer are natives of Europe, Asia and parts of North Africa and have thrived in Australia since their release in the mid-1800s. They are the second largest of Australia's six deer species. A mature stag stands about 120cm at the shoulder and can weigh between 135kg and 160kg.

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Fallow Deer

Fallow deer are native to parts of Europe, Spain and north-west Africa and were released in Australia around 1830. Mature fallow deer stand around 90cm at the shoulder and weigh around 90kg. Their coat varies from the common or 'red' fallow deer, through the black and creamy white.

Source: Darrell Panther

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